Woman Gunned Down At Phuket Market

[george]

Breaking news: Woman gunned down at Phuket market

Neighbors gather outside the home in Thung Thong,

Phuket, where Sumittra Namfak, 55, was shot in the

head this afternoon. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

Phuket Police question relatives who were inside the

house at the time of the shooting. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- Police are looking for two men wanted for the shooting of a 55-year-old woman in the head at an afternoon market in Phuket today.

Witnesses told the Phuket Gazette that the two men were seen parking a bronze-silver pickup in front of the home of Sumittra Namfak in Soi Rakchart, near the See Kor Market in Thung Thong.

The men followed Ms Sumittra, who works at her home as a seamstress, to the market before one of the men pulled out a gun and shot her in the head at about 3pm.

The men fled the scene while shocked onlookers rendered assistance and called for an ambulance.

Ms Sumittra was rushed to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town.

Police have yet to announce any possible motive for the shooting.

Ms Sumittra’s neighbors told the Gazette that she has a foreign “boyfriend”, who is currently abroad.

UPDATE 19:00:

Police this afternoon arrested three men in a pickup matching the description given by witnesses. The men were stopped at the Tah Chat Chai checkpoint, the sole checkpoint for all vehicles heading off-island. The men have been taken to Thung Thong Police Station for questioning.

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-06-09

[theoldgit]

Sorry, but do we know that the lady was killed, I cannot see it in the report.

[amyb]

the report has just been updated on said news site - she was shot in her home, and she is fighting for her life @ vachira hospital.

[domma56]

Sorry, but do we know that the lady was killed, I cannot see it in the report.

you are correct it only says she was gunned down not the outcome, I have lived in thailand for only two weeks and am shocked at the number and variety of attacks on people, shootings, stabbings, muggings you name it have read about it.

[Suradit69]

Sorry, but do we know that the lady was killed, I cannot see it in the report.

you are correct it only says she was gunned down not the outcome, I have lived in thailand for only two weeks and am shocked at the number and variety of attacks on people, shootings, stabbings, muggings you name it have read about it.

That has less to do with being in Thailand and more to do with what you read. In your home country you probably didn't read things that concentrated on all the seamy news and those things meant to stir up the unwashed masses.

[zappalot]

...I have lived in thailand for only two weeks and am shocked at the number and variety of attacks on people, shootings, stabbings, muggings...

u will get used to it, believe me...

[supaprik]

Sorry, but do we know that the lady was killed, I cannot see it in the report.

you are correct it only says she was gunned down not the outcome, I have lived in thailand for only two weeks and am shocked at the number and variety of attacks on people, shootings, stabbings, muggings you name it have read about it.

That has less to do with being in Thailand and more to do with what you read. In your home country you probably didn't read things that concentrated on all the seamy news and those things meant to stir up the unwashed masses.

In my country I would doubt if a woman would ever be shot in this manner either...least I've never heard of it...

[johnlandy]

Sorry, but do we know that the lady was killed, I cannot see it in the report.

Nice to see that not everyone jumps to conclusions.

[kiniyow]

Sorry, but do we know that the lady was killed, I cannot see it in the report.

you are correct it only says she was gunned down not the outcome, I have lived in thailand for only two weeks and am shocked at the number and variety of attacks on people, shootings, stabbings, muggings you name it have read about it.

The Thai News is pretty good at printing crimes for all to read unlike the West where many crimes you never hear about...

[inquisitive]

the report has just been updated on said news site - she was shot in her home, and she is fighting for her life @ vachira hospital.

So all the details about following her to the market and the details about the onlookers reactions were all, what? Fabricated? Misunderstood? I guess my question is whether the reporter and/or the editor KNEW they were printing speculation and misinformation, or whether they are so incompetent that they can't tell when they are clueless. This kind of reporting is so common that one simply has to wonder whether it's worth reading the news in the first place.

[skorchio]

Sorry, but do we know that the lady was killed, I cannot see it in the report.

you are correct it only says she was gunned down not the outcome, I have lived in thailand for only two weeks and am shocked at the number and variety of attacks on people, shootings, stabbings, muggings you name it have read about it.

The Thai News is pretty good at printing crimes for all to read unlike the West where many crimes you never hear about...

Actually I think you are 100% wrong and that the opposite is the case. Extra-judicial killings have run into the thousands in this country in the past decade. And also bear in mind that a significant proportion of organised crime is orchestrated by the BiB - in these instances there is no crime and nothing to report. But that doesn't mean it didn't happen .-..

[amyb]

the report has just been updated on said news site - she was shot in her home, and she is fighting for her life @ vachira hospital.

So all the details about following her to the market and the details about the onlookers reactions were all, what? Fabricated? Misunderstood? I guess my question is whether the reporter and/or the editor KNEW they were printing speculation and misinformation, or whether they are so incompetent that they can't tell when they are clueless. This kind of reporting is so common that one simply has to wonder whether it's worth reading the news in the first place.

conflicting reports on 2 different sites. i don't know the real story, was simply stating it was being updated.

[Unkomoncents]

It's hard to see why the "foreign 'boyfriend'" bit has any business in an article about the vicious murder of a local seamstress.

[jamles]

very good question and very relevant to this forum. what does the foreign boyfriend have to do with this"

[Dr. Zorg]

Sorry, but do we know that the lady was killed, I cannot see it in the report.

you are correct it only says she was gunned down not the outcome, I have lived in thailand for only two weeks and am shocked at the number and variety of attacks on people, shootings, stabbings, muggings you name it have read about it.

Coming from the second most dangerous country in the world, Thailand is rather safe ranked at number 16.

[Rimmer]

Insensitive speculative post and quoted replies removed

[jerrysteve]

There is always a motive; always. If there two men went into a home to shoot someone, there is a definetly a motive; it certainly could not

been robbery, after all, how much money could a seamstress make.

It will be interesting to find out what the facts are.

[w11guy]

It's hard to see why the "foreign 'boyfriend'" bit has any business in an article about the vicious murder of a local seamstress.

It's called background information. Most times people are shot assaulted killed, etc, the report usually mentions if they are married, have children, etc. So maybe nothing to do with why she got shot, but still interesting. That she was a seamstress probably has nothing to do with the shooting either, so why don't you also complain about that.

Stop being so critical about a simple crime report. Or offer your services and do a better write-up. Too many on here are quick to criticize others but don't actually contribute anything themselves.

Much worse happens back in the UK. A week or so ago a man and woman were charge with an arson attack that killed 6 of their own children. And a few year ago another woman kidnapped and drugged her own daughter. I've also read about plenty of horror stories from the US. And how about that Austrian guy keeping his daughter locked up and raping her for years on end. Or that German cannibal? I think some of you don't really know what goes on in your home countries.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

Coming from the second most dangerous country in the world, Thailand is rather safe ranked at number 16.

Which ranking are you referring to, sources please?

[silent]

Sorry, but do we know that the lady was killed, I cannot see it in the report.

you are correct it only says she was gunned down not the outcome, I have lived in thailand for only two weeks and am shocked at the number and variety of attacks on people, shootings, stabbings, muggings you name it have read about it.

That has less to do with being in Thailand and more to do with what you read. In your home country you probably didn't read things that concentrated on all the seamy news and those things meant to stir up the unwashed masses.

Agreed. Just not as much variety and it takes at least to shots to get the get each story close to right. How many here heard about the shooting at the Eaton Centre in Toronto last week, or how the porn star did a slice and dice and interpol nailed in Germany.

Oh yes, Thailand's a bad place to some and Canada's so tame.

[TomTao]

Lets hope the lady recovers enough to at least give some idea as to who her attackers were, then i hope she makes a full recovery.

[MILT]

Sorry, but do we know that the lady was killed, I cannot see it in the report.

you are correct it only says she was gunned down not the outcome, I have lived in thailand for only two weeks and am shocked at the number and variety of attacks on people, shootings, stabbings, muggings you name it have read about it.

Every state in the USA has news like this everyday. Thailand is safer than the USA any day.

Violence is violence in all parts of the world. Maybe Thailand is to scary for you?

Edited June 9, 2012 by MILT

[Sateev]

Stop being so critical about a simple crime report. Or offer your services and do a better write-up. Too many on here are quick to criticize others but don't actually contribute anything themselves.

Stop telling everyone else what to stop doing.

[allan michaud]

Sorry, but do we know that the lady was killed, I cannot see it in the report.

you are correct it only says she was gunned down not the outcome, I have lived in thailand for only two weeks and am shocked at the number and variety of attacks on people, shootings, stabbings, muggings you name it have read about it.

Welcome to wonderful Thailand, land of the crocodile smile.

[MB1]

It's hard to see why the "foreign 'boyfriend'" bit has any business in an article about the vicious murder of a local seamstress.

It's called background information. Most times people are shot assaulted killed, etc, the report usually mentions if they are married, have children, etc. So maybe nothing to do with why she got shot, but still interesting. That she was a seamstress probably has nothing to do with the shooting either, so why don't you also complain about that.

Stop being so critical about a simple crime report. Or offer your services and do a better write-up. Too many on here are quick to criticize others but don't actually contribute anything themselves.

Much worse happens back in the UK. A week or so ago a man and woman were charge with an arson attack that killed 6 of their own children. And a few year ago another woman kidnapped and drugged her own daughter. I've also read about plenty of horror stories from the US. And how about that Austrian guy keeping his daughter locked up and raping her for years on end. Or that German cannibal? I think some of you don't really know what goes on in your home countries.

When horrific things happen in the Uk they always make head line news as they actually don't happen everyday but I 'd like to make a bet with you w11guy that there are more shooting incidents in Thailand than in the the UK and more murders in Thailand as a result of shootings than in the UK.

Just think back to the so called drug wars, someones mentioned judicial killings.

Read the news clippings and surely even you can see that much more killing and shooting and murder go's on in Thailand than in th UK. IMO it's not about the severity of inncidents it's more about the regular occurence.

No way in the UK are as many shootings and murders than there are in Thailand and some of us do know what happens in our home countries. DO YOU know what really happens.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect App

Edited June 9, 2012 by MB1

[Baerboxer]

Sorry, but do we know that the lady was killed, I cannot see it in the report.

you are correct it only says she was gunned down not the outcome, I have lived in thailand for only two weeks and am shocked at the number and variety of attacks on people, shootings, stabbings, muggings you name it have read about it.

The Thai News is pretty good at printing crimes for all to read unlike the West where many crimes you never hear about...

Where did you get this "fact" from? And, how do you know about all these crimes that have not been reported via the media?

[chingching]

There is always a motive; always.

Well not always always. In the u.s.a. we have the case of one man eating a homeless man's face off. He would not stop eating the other man, when the policeman commanded him to stop. The cop wound up shooting him to death (police brutality !) The man who was being eaten alive is still in hospital. From his picture he has a pretty full beard and mustache, so I am ruling out "tastes good" as a motive. BTW he did this while both were naked laying on a highway entrance or exit ramp. (But of course the reporter there is reporting irrelevant details)

[IAMHERE]

There is always a motive; always. If there two men went into a home to shoot someone, there is a definetly a motive; it certainly could not

been robbery, after all, how much money could a seamstress make.

It will be interesting to find out what the facts are.

Mistaken identity. Highly likely mistaken address. Both mistakes happen.

[KarenBravo]

Another news source say the police stopped the getaway vehicle and the culprits are being interrogated.

Edited June 9, 2012 by KarenBravo

[Acemaker]

It's hard to see why the "foreign 'boyfriend'" bit has any business in an article about the vicious murder of a local seamstress.

It's called background information. Most times people are shot assaulted killed, etc, the report usually mentions if they are married, have children, etc. So maybe nothing to do with why she got shot, but still interesting. That she was a seamstress probably has nothing to do with the shooting either, so why don't you also complain about that.

Stop being so critical about a simple crime report. Or offer your services and do a better write-up. Too many on here are quick to criticize others but don't actually contribute anything themselves.

Much worse happens back in the UK. A week or so ago a man and woman were charge with an arson attack that killed 6 of their own children. And a few year ago another woman kidnapped and drugged her own daughter. I've also read about plenty of horror stories from the US. And how about that Austrian guy keeping his daughter locked up and raping her for years on end. Or that German cannibal? I think some of you don't really know what goes on in your home countries.

BITCH !